Feasibility of butanol production from wheat starch wastewater by Clostridium acetobutylicum

Highlights: • First report on ABE fermentation from wheat starch wastewater. • A novel approach for biofuel production considering efficient utilization of bioresources in China. • Butanol could be produced directly from starch wastewater or with cassava addition. • Large-scale fermentation of butanol from starch wastewater was feasible. For the urgent demand of environmental protection and resource utilization, the use of industrial or agricultural waste for biofuel production has been put on the agenda. The present study investigated the feasibility of acetone, butanol, and ethanol production from wheat starch processing wastewater by Clostridium species. Results showed that butanol could be produced directly from high concentration of starch wastewater. As for butanol production from low concentration of starch wastewater, cassava was a suitable supplementary carbon source, and phosphate and yeast extract also promoted the solvent synthesis. Large scale solvent production in 30-L bioreactor was conducted using the mixed fermentation medium composed of starch wastewater and cassava. This fermentation strategy was much efficient and economically viable, which lay a good foundation for the industrial production of butanol from wheat starch wastewater.